An enchanting invitation to go outside, take in nature…and enjoy every moment of it.
What will Milo see on his walk today?
Milo, a young boy with curly brown hair and beige skin, sets out on a walk through the neighborhood, holding hands with his mother, who has long, wavy brown hair and beige skin. They come upon a big puddle, and Milo decides the rain has left it for him to discover. When Milo pretends his reflection is a real child, his mother plays along and replies. From there, the pair hear buzzing bees humming as they go about their daily activities. They see bright yellow flowers whose perfume reminds Milo of his mother, and they see white tails in the sky from a plane hidden in the clouds. Milo’s mother gently encourages Milo’s imaginings and even helps him with an art project that Milo works on to help them remember the day. Howe’s sensitive prose expertly guides readers through this sensorial adventure, offering touchstones of wonder and delight (especially the welcoming slobbery kisses from a friendly pooch). Kikuchi’s luminous palette depicts whimsy and joy in each small moment—the images are awash in delicate blues and warm yellows, outlined in soft grays and browns. Varying perspectives provide close-ups of Milo’s experiences as well as bird’s-eye views of him and his mother in nature, keeping young readers engaged and curious themselves.
An enchanting invitation to go outside, take in nature…and enjoy every moment of it. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781419755200
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
A valuable asset to the library of a child who experiences anxiety and a great book to get children talking about their...
Ruby is an adventurous and happy child until the day she discovers a Worry.
Ruby barely sees the Worry—depicted as a blob of yellow with a frowny unibrow—at first, but as it hovers, the more she notices it and the larger it grows. The longer Ruby is affected by this Worry, the fewer colors appear on the page. Though she tries not to pay attention to the Worry, which no one else can see, ignoring it prevents her from enjoying the things that she once loved. Her constant anxiety about the Worry causes the bright yellow blob to crowd Ruby’s everyday life, which by this point is nearly all washes of gray and white. But at the playground, Ruby sees a boy sitting on a bench with a growing sky-blue Worry of his own. When she invites the boy to talk, his Worry begins to shrink—and when Ruby talks about her own Worry, it also grows smaller. By the book’s conclusion, Ruby learns to control her Worry by talking about what worries her, a priceless lesson for any child—or adult—conveyed in a beautifully child-friendly manner. Ruby presents black, with hair in cornrows and two big afro-puff pigtails, while the boy has pale skin and spiky black hair.
A valuable asset to the library of a child who experiences anxiety and a great book to get children talking about their feelings (. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0237-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
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